WEBVTT AND PEOPLE DID NOT WASTE THEOPPORTUNITY.FROM THE PACIFIC COAST IN OREGON, TO THE SEACOAST OF NEWHAMPSHIRE >> THERE IT IS! TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN! SHELLEY: THE GREAT AMERICAN SOLAR ECLIPSE BROUGHT THE ENTIRENATION TOGETHER.>> IT IS GOING OVER AMERICA AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE SHARING THIS.REPORTER: IT ALL STARTED IN LINCOLN CITY, OREGON. >> IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.IT IS SO DARK OUT HERE. LOOKS LIKE A SUNSET OVER THERE. IT IS AMAZING.REPORTER: HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE,WE SAWABOUT 62% COVERAGE OF THE SUN.AT THE MCAULIFFE-SHEPARDDISCOVERY CENTER IN CONCORD,STAFF PASSED OUT SPECIAL ECLIPSEGLASSES.>> IT IS GREAT TO SEE HOW INTERESTED PEOPLE ARE IN SCIENCE.REPORTER: AND PEOPLE ENJOYED THEVISUALS OUT IN ARMS PARK IN MANCHESTER, SOME TAKING THE TIME OUT OF WORKTO CATCH A GLIMPSE. >> IT IS A BIG TO DO. WE SAW A GUY WITH A WELDING GLASS GOING ON. NEVER GET A CHANCE TO SEE THIS STUFF.REPORTER: AND IT'S THE FIRST ECLIPSE FOR THIS FAMILY ALL THE KIDS DECKED OUT WITH THEIR ECLIPSEGLASSES.>> REALLY COOL. >> IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN.REPORTER: IT ALL WRAPPED UP IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. FOR GRANITE STATERS, TODAY'SPARTIAL VIEW, SERVING AS AN INSPIRATION FOR YEARS TOCOME. >> IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT IT IS PARTIAL.IT STILL SHOWED UP. THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT IN A WAY THAT WON'T HURT THEM. THEY ARE BEING MADE MORE AWAY OFTHE SCIENCE OF IT AND IN MANY RESPECTS THE HISTORY OF IT TOO. REPORTER: ALL IN ALL A GREAT DAY.IN 2021, WE'LL SEE A PARTIALSOLAR ECLIPSE THAT WILL COVER MORE THAN 70% OF THE SUN. AND NIGHT OWLS, WE HAVEN'TFORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU, NEWHAMPSHIRE WILL BE IN THE PATH OFA TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE IN2019. AND WE'LL BE IN THE PATH OF A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE IN 2024.

A total solar eclipse captivated millions of people across the country Monday, and while it was only a partial eclipse in New Hampshire, Granite Staters still peered excitedly at the sky to take in the celestial event.

The eclipse was streamed from the WMUR studios, where at about 2:45 p.m., 62 percent of the sun was covered up by the moon.

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At the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, about 1,500 people gathered for a viewing party. The partial eclipse started about 1:30 p.m. in New Hampshire as the moon started to move slowly across the sun.

"I wanted to see it because there has been a lot of talk about it, and it's really cool because it's one of a kind," said Ben Hussey.

"We got here this morning at 10:30 because we didn't want to miss a minute of this excitement," said Eric Orff.

Staff members passed out special eclipse glasses, while others got creative and used objects to project the image of the eclipse onto the ground.

"It's heartening," said Jeanne Gerulskis, executive director of the Discovery Center. "It's great to see how interested people are in science."

The eclipse peaked in New Hampshire about 2:45 p.m., when about 60 percent of the sun was covered by the moon. Solar astronomer R.P. Hale took the opportunity to teach people about why it happens.

"This kind of lineup is perfect, because the moon is directly between the sun and the Earth, and it's casting its shadow," Hale said.

He said the eclipse is an opportunity to learn more about the sun, including its precise distance from the Earth.

"Which actually, if you are dealing with navigation satellites, that is really important to know, among other things," he said.

The last time a partial eclipse was seen in New Hampshire was in 1994. Resident Don Weese said he remembers the one in 1979 as well.

"It's great, with all of the little kids, because they haven't seen it," he said. "I give them the glasses and they look, and their faces drop, because they just love to see what is going on."

People who work in Manchester near Arms Park took some time out of their day to go outside and watch the eclipse. Some people had picnics and took their children out to see the spectacular sight.

"The three of us, this was the meeting on our calendar from 2 to 3 today, the eclipse, so we could make sure nobody booked over it," said Matt Toy, of Amherst. "I mean, it only happens once every several years, so we want to get it when it happens."

Most of the state had great weather for the eclipse. Hampton Beach was packed with people enjoying the weather, but many took the time to look up at the show in the sky.

Some brought their own viewing glasses along, but those who didn't shared a pair that the Blue Ocean Society Discovery Center had on hand.

"We're explaining about what's happening with the moon and the sun, and we're also explaining how the tides are affected by the moon and the gravitational pull," Discovery Center intern Becky Thompson said.

HISTORY

New Hampshire has experienced two total solar eclipse over the past 150 years, and several close calls along the way.

The next countrywide total solar eclipse will be in 2024, and New Hampshire is lucky enough to be in its path of totality.